Email To Car Talk

When I don't know the answer to something; especially if it has motors and gears, I ask a man. In the case of Car Talk, it's a Two Fer. When you hear this one on their show, you'll remember it!

Thanks Click and Clack!! And I'll be sure to tune in more frequently.

Here's a link to their site in case you have your own Auto "Motive" Puzzler, or your ride isn't running well. http://www.cartalk.com

> Emailed on Wed. April 16, 2008 to Car Talk> staff:>> My sister, who listens to your show on> occasion and claims to be somewhat psychic> herself; has not satisfactorily answered some> puzzling questions about what is going on> with my ride. I thought I'd ask The Pros.>> Why would oil or glue markings suddenly> appear on the decorative fabric on my door> panels of my 2000 Toyota Corolla, and what> could have caused them? They first appeared> on the front door panels back in 2006. I> noticed the same odd pattern has developed in> the rear panels in the last year or so. How> unusual, being as the fabric had been in> pristine condition for years, and no mold or> mildew is to be found. And this substance> appears to be some sort of oil or glue and is> very similar on each of the 4 panels.>> And how can door panels remove And Replace> themselves? A screw which was damaged> somehow, is now completely missing and the> ring that should have been behind the window> crank I found on the floor between the seat> and the door a few weeks back. Which might> explain what "Somebody" was doing one night> back in late February when I noticed the next> morning that my MANual lock had unlocked> itself during the night...That has happened> before, after I doubled checked the locks by> physically pulling on them to be certain they> were operating correctly. Being as I only> have a passenger perhaps once a year, the> doors and hardware were in "Like New"> condition, and the plastic ring was fully> intact, so it would have been impossible for> it to have inadvertently "fallen off" all by> its little self. The handle which operates> the door lever was also screwed on tightly,> but in a cockeyed position, with visible> indentations of where it had been in place> for years.>> Two years ago, my radio buttons were askew,> and several were inoperable after leaving it> for a few months at a friend's home in the So> Cal sun. At that time, I also noticed a> couple of little plastic boxes dangling from> under the steering column, but assumed that> something had just dropped down, being as it> was a 6 year old car. When I asked him about> those items he replied "I dunno, don't worry> about it." I taped the little boxes up with> duct tape about 6 months back, and noticed> several weeks ago that they have> disappeared!!! The piece of tape was> clinging to the plastic dash, but the boxes> and wires were gone! Astonishing. I asked a> man with a degree in Physics about the> possibility of inanimate objects removing> themselves from a locked position,> levitating, and returning to their original> position; he didn't think it was possible.>> Her Reply:> "Actually heat/and cooling will unscrew many> screws. It happened in my Probe right up to> the time the door panel fell off.">> I'm not buying her less than "Psychic"> answer; do you have a better one? I have> photos if you need a visual. Thanks! Paula> in Los Angeles